Returning for a fifth season would symbolize failure to Ron Powlus.
It would mean another injury, perhaps, or another season in which his output doesn’t meet the out-of-sight expectations that have been placed on his weary shoulders since the quarterback stepped foot on Notre Dame’s campus in 1993.
“I don’t want to plan on having a bad year and coming back,” says Powlus, who may need only one semester next year to complete his marketing degree. “Right now, I’m planning on having a great year and the team having a great year and (my) moving on.”
Of course, Powlus knows “having a great year” never has been as easy as it sounds.
Powlus’ freshman year ended before it began when–on the verge of unseating senior QB Kevin McDougal–he broke his collarbone in the team’s final preseason scrimmage.
Powlus rebounded in 1994, throwing a school-record 19 touchdown passes and having his best season while the Irish had their worst (6-5-1) in nearly a decade.
Last season, Powlus improved his completion percentage from .536 to .571, but failed to throw for more than 200 yards in a game after the 45-26 loss to Ohio State Sept. 30.
Five weeks later, during the team’s 35-17 victory over Navy, he suffered a broken left arm.
“A lot of things have happened to me here,” Powlus says, before motioning with his hands to form quote marks. “Character builders, I guess. My mom always asks: `How much more character do you need?’ “
In the estimation of his coaches, Powlus has plenty of character–and also plenty of intelligence and arm strength.
“He’s smart, and he will be a fine pro quarterback,” offensive coordinator Dave Roberts says. “When he gets going (this season), he will be a throwing machine.”
Roberts and Powlus have talked about the expectations that accompany being the top high school player in the nation, being a man once tabbed by ESPN’s Beano Cook as likely to win at least two Heisman Trophies.
“Ron’s in a no-win situation,” Roberts says. “Even if he wins 11 games, he won’t score enough points or throw enough passes. One thing that has made the Notre Dame quarterbacks successful at the next level is mental toughness.
“I told him last year before the Southern Cal game, `Ron, you can’t make everybody happy. The only person you can please is yourself. No matter what you do, it will never be good enough.’ “
Head coach Lou Holtz certainly doesn’t feel that way. Over the last two years, Holtz has played the role of a lawyer defending a client whose actions have raised some serious questions: What about Powlus’ fumbled snaps from center? His lack of mobility? His seven interceptions last season?
“Three of the seven were caused by linemen (lack of protection),” Holtz says. “Two were because wide receivers missed routes. Ron Powlus averages less (mistakes) than any quarterback I’ve ever coached. When you look back at what he has done, it is rather amazing.”
Holtz says the starting QB job belongs to Powlus–though his spring activity is limited to casual tosses while he rehabilitates his left arm.
“(Backup) Tom Krug understands completely,” Holtz says. “Ron Powlus gives us the best chance to win.”
